Bits and pieces of my life. I am a lifelong Christian. I have been married for over 39 years to Stan. No children. We have 3 Italian Greyhounds: Persephone, Dresden & Capodimonte and a calico cat named Binky. We have 9 nieces/nephews and 9 grandnieces/nephews whom we love. My hobbies are genealogy, reading, digital scrapbooking, history, dogs, homemaking. This is a personal blog and not a business. I share what interests me and I am not selling anything or making a profit.

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Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Joseph Washington "Wash" Conner and Cynthia Catherine Flynn

Joseph Washington Conner is my third great granduncle (I have to use a relationship calculator for that one!). Our common ancestor is Isaac Jackson "Jack" Conner who is my 4th great grandfather. My direct ancestor, Erwin McCoy Conner, and Joseph Washington Conner were brothers.

Joseph Washington Conner was born 7/15/1845 in Rutherford County, NC to Isaac Jackson Conner (DOB 1817-1820 in Rutherford County, NC; DOD After 1871 in Rutherford County, NC) and Adaline Thomason (DOB 1816-1826 in Rutherford County, NC; DOD After 1870 in Rutherford County, NC). He was the 3rd of 8 known children. His two older brothers were James Conner and Erwin McCoy Conner. His younger siblings were Thomas Conner, Martha Conner Wilson, William M. Conner, Emily Conner, Ursilla Conner Wilson.

The Hickory Nut Gorge starts at the Eastern Continental Divide in Gerton, NC and runs through the communities of Gerton, Bat Cave, and Chimney Rock, and ends 10 miles later at Lake Lure--dropping about 1800 feet. Route 74 runs along it with 14 hairpin curves. The Town of Buffalo was located in what was known as Whiteside Valley. It was centered on farming and mining. There is no know record of how many people lived in the Town of Buffalo but judging by the church records of the Whiteside Valley Church of 1918 with 98 members, it can be assumed that the entire town was about 150 people. This town was often a brief stop for those heading through Hickory Nut Gorge on the Drover’s Road to Asheville, NC. The Town of Buffalo was located at about the center of what is now Lake Lure. There was a complete relocation of an entire community known as Whiteside Valley, all homes, the Whiteside Valley Church and Cemetery and the Ledbetter Store. Whiteside Valley Church was organized July 7, 1892. On August 29, 1928, the Whiteside Valley church became Chimney Rock Baptist, and is still located on that site. Most of the graves were moved to Buffalo Cemetery in the Rumbling Bald Resort. When it was known that plans for the lake to be built were going to flood the area in the 1920’s, the church members began to look for another property and ending up tearing down the original church, using the materials to build on repair the old Chimney Rock Church site.

Bill’s Creek Road starts out as a “Cherokee trail to return to the North Carolina Piedmont… The rutted mud trail became part of what was to be called “The Rutherford Trace”. Over time, the trail grew into a wagon route for Scotch-Irish settlers who were moving into the Blue Ridge. By the 1930’s the trail was paved, and was called Bill’s Creek Road, after a small stream that flowed from nearby Bill’s Mountain.” From Historic Bill’s Creek, The Bill’s Creek community was known as Uree until 1947.

First church in area was Bill’s Creek Baptist Church established around 1785.

My 3rd great grandfather, Erwin McCoy Conner (Wash Conner's older brother) served in the War of Northern Aggression. He was in the C.S.A. NC 25th Infantry Regiment, Co A, Private. He was present or accounted for until he died in the hospital at Wilson Hospital Confederate Military No. 2, 401 Goldsboro Street South, Wilson, Wilson County, NC on 7/4/1862. Cause of death unknown but family tradition was he died of "fever".

Confederate NC Troops
25th Regiment, NC Infantry

The 25th Infantry Regiment, formerly the 15th Volunteers, was assembled at Camp Patton, Asheville, North Carolina, in August, 1861. The following counties furnished companies for the regiment: Henderson, Jackson, Haywood, Cherokee, Transylvania, Clay, Macon, and Buncombe. It moved to Grahamville, South Carolina and remained there until March, 1862. The unit then moved back to North Carolina and arrived in Virginia on June 24. Serving in R. Ransom's and M.W. Ranson's Brigade, it fought with the army from the Seven Day's Battles to Fredericksburg, served in North Carolina, then saw action at Plymouth and Drewery's Bluff. Later the 25th participated in the long Petersburg siege south of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign. It reported 128 casualties during the Seven Days' Battles, 15 in the Maryland Campaign, 88 at Fredericksburg, and 103 at Plymouth. Many were disabled at Sayler's Creek, and on April 9, 1865, only 8 officers and 69 were present. The field officers were Colonels Thomas L. Clingman and Henry M. Rutledge; Lieutenant Colonels S.C. Bryson, St. Clair Dearing, and Matthew N. Love; and Majors John W. Francis, William S. Grady, and William Y. Morgan.

The eldest, James Conner, was born About 1835 and would have been 26 yrs old when the War started. He is in the 1850 U.S. Census with his family but I couldn't find him in the 1860 U.S. Census. Had he died between 1850-1860 U.S. Census? Or did he missed being enumerated or did I miss finding him? I don't know. I found no further records of him. There were some possibilities in the Roster of Confederate Soldiers.

The Roster of Confederate Soldiers, Vol IV, Pg 78
J. Conner, NC 3rd Jr. Res. Co. I
James Conner, NC 22nd Inf. Col. (The NC 22nd was organized in Raleigh, Wake County, NC)
James B. Conner, NC 3rd Arty, (40th St Troops), Co. E (The NC 3rd Arty was organized in Raleigh, Wake County, NC)
James B. Conner, NC 12th Inf., Co. E (Became the NC 22nd)
James R. Conner, NC 1st Inf. (6 mo. '61), Co. L (The NC 1st was organized in Warren County, NC.)
James W. Conner, NC 5th Inf., Co. I (The NC 5th was organized in Halifax County, NC)
J.H. Conner, NC 62nd Inf., Co. D (The NC 62nd was organized in Waynesville, Haywood County, NC.)
These are the "Conner" possibilities but it looks like "J.H. Conner" is the closest to being James Conner but I can't prove it. There were no "Connor" possibilities that match James.

He may have died or moved before the Civil War. I would expect him to be in the same group with his brother, Erwin McCoy Conner (NC 25th) but none of the above are the NC 25th. He was 15 yrs old and with his family in the 1850 U.S. Census but he is not listed with the family in the 1860 U.S. Census.

Now I come to Wash Conner. Since Erwin McCoy Conner was in the NC 25th, you would think Wash would be also. The Roster of Confederate Soldiers, Vol IV, Pg 79, "Conner, J. Wash, NC 62nd Inf., Co. F". Is this Joseph Washington Conner?

These are the possibilities for Joseph Washington Conner. I would expect Joseph Washington Conner to be in the same group with his brother, Erwin McCoy Conner (NC 25th). But there are no possibilities for Wash Conner that were in the NC 25th. The closest one is "J. Wash Conner" in the NC 62nd which was organized in Waynesville, Haywood County, NC. There was a James Conner possibility that was in NC 62nd so could it be the two brothers? How would I prove/disprove it?

Joseph Wash Conner married Cynthia Catherine Flynn (aka Cynthia Caroline Flynn) on 5/28/1865 in Rutherford County, NC. Cynthia Catherine Flynn was born 9/13/1848 in Rutherford County to William "Billie" Flynn and Cynthia Bagwell. Wash Conner and Cynthia Flynn had 12 known children:

1) Serelda Evline Conner (DOB About 1868 in Rutherford County, NC; DOD About 1893 in Rutherford County, NC) married John A. Robertson (DOB 5/5/1856 in Rutherford County, NC, DOD 3/9/1931 in Mooresville, Iredell County, NC). They had Meriman M. Robertson (female) who married John W. Goins; Hester C. Robertson who married Joseph Ellenburg; Fay B. Robertson who married Claude Nathan Logan; Darina Catherine Robertson who married Lee John Robertson; and, Thomas Roscoe Robertson who married Ellen Riley. Serelda was only 25 years old when she died and their youngest child was born in 1893 so she may have died of complications of childbirth. John A. Robertson died of Cerebral hemorrhage (duration 20 mins), other contributory factors were chronic institial nephritis and hypertension.

Photo from Jane Gouge, The home and family of Lillian Adaline Conner Skipper about 1941-1942.

4) Louisa A. Conner (DOB 10/18/1874 in Madison County, NC; DOD 11/4/1919 in West Asheville, Buncombe County, NC of Pellagra, secondary was emphysema) married William Fletcher Bynum Jackson (DOB 2/4/1872 in Polk County, NC; DOD 11/17/1934 in Asheville, Buncombe County, NC). They had Major Bynum Jackson.

5) Major Henry Porter Conner (DOB 12/15/1875 in Rutherford County, NC; DOD 4/10/1963 in Rutherford County, NC of Cerebro-vascular accident due to fracture left hip. Slipped and fell.) married 1st Nannie Jane Burgess (DOB 10/12/1879 in Rutherford County, NC; DOD 4/6/1909 in Rutherford County, NC). They had Cynthia Louise Conner Davis, Dora E. Conner, Rufus Roy Conner, Bessie Alma Conner Lytle, Jay Roscoe Conner. He married 2nd Alice Frady (DOB 2/14/1875 in Rutherford County, NC; DOD 9/15/1960 in Gilkey, Rutherford County, NC, formerly married to a Shitte). They had one child, George Hampton Conner.

I was unable to find Wash Conner and Cynthia Flynn in the 1870 U.S. Census.

A series of earthquakes began on 1/1/1874 centered in Bald Mountain (Rumbling Bald) at the Hickory Nut Gorge. The tremors rattled dishes and broke windows. Dust, smoke and eerie sounds emanated from the rugged peak as shocks dislodged boulders inside the mountain and opened massive fissures. Residents were terrified.

1880 U.S. Census of Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, NC, Roll T9_981, Family History Film 1254981, Pg 572.1000, ED 167, Image 0402, Ancestry.com, Line 1-9, Dwelling 34, Family 38, "J. Washington Conner"J. Washington Conner, W(hite), M(ale), 35 yrs old (DOB 1845), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCCintha C. Conner, W, F, 32 yrs old (DOB 1848), Wife, Married, Housekeeping, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCEvline S. Conner, W, F, 13 yrs old (DOB 1867), Daughter, Single, Laborer, Attends school, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCJohn A. Conner (sic, may be Jake A. Conner), W, M, 12 yrs old (DOB 1868), Son, Laborer, Attends school, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCLillia A. Conner, W, F, 9 yrs old (DOB 1871), Daughter, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCLouiza C. Conner (sic), W, F, 6 yrs old (DOB 1874), Daughter, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCJuaf Henry P. Conner (sic, maybe Joseph Henry P. Conner), W, M, 4 yrs old (DOB 1876), Son, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCIner Jane Conner (sic), W, F, 2 yrs old (DOB 1878), Daughter, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCMary Louvada Conner, W, F, 3/12 mos old, Born in Febry (DOB 1880), Daughter, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC

1900 U.S. Census of Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, NC, Roll T623_1216, Pg 7A, ED 130, Ancestry.com, Lines 37-43, Dwelling 91, Family 93, "George W. Conner" (sic, should be Joseph Washington Conner)George W. Conner, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born May, 1845, 55 yrs old, Married 35 years, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Farmer, Owns farm free of mortgageCynthia Conner, Wife, W, F, Born Aug, 1845, 54 yrs old, Married 34 yrs, 14 children with 10 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, DomesticMary V. Conner, Daughter, W, F, Born Feby, 1881, 19 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, DomesticElla M. Conner, Daughter, W, F, Born May, 1883, 17 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, DomesticCorris Conner, Son, W, M, Born Dec, 1888, 11 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, FarmerSallie Conner, Daughter, W, F, Born May, 1890, 10 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, DomesticEdgar Conner, Son, W, F, Born June, 1892, 7 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC

1910 U.S. Census of Broad River, Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, NC, Roll T624_1132, Pg 13A, ED 126, Image 65, Ancestry.com, Lines 40-44, Dwelling 211, Family 213, "Washington Conner" Lines 17-23, Dwelling 206, Family 208, "Major P. Canner" (sic, should be Major P. Conner)Major P. Canner (sic), Head, M(ale), W(hite), 34 yrs old (DOB 1876), Second marriage, Married less than a year, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Farm Laborer on home farm for wage, Can read and writeAlice Canner, Wife, F, W, 35 yrs old (DOB 1875), Second Marriage, Married less than a year, 2 children with 2 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Own Income, Owns farm free of mortgageCintha Canner, Daughter, F, W, 13 yrs old (DOB 1897), Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Farm Laborer on home farm, Attends schoolBoyl Canner (sic), Son, M, W, 9 yrs old (DOB 1901), Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Farm Laborer on home farm, Attends schoolBessie Canner, Daughter, F, W, 5 yrs old (DOB 1905), Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCRosco Canner (sic), Son, M, W, 3 yrs old (DOB 1907), Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCWheiston Shitte, (sic, looks like Whinston but that is still probably misspelled verson of Winston), Stepson, M, W, 11 yrs old (DOB 1899), Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Farm Laborer on home farm, Attends schoolLeardy, Isac M. (sic) and familyKeeter, James (sic) and familyRobison, Bargan (sic) and familyEdgeston, Joshawa (sic) and family Washington Conner , Head, W(hite), M(ale), 64 yrs old (DOB 1846), First marriage, Married 44 yrs (DOM 1866), Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Farmer, General farming, Owns farm free of mortgageCintha Conner, Wife, F, W, 61 yrs old (DOB 1849), First marriage, Married 44 yrs, 14 children with 10 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCCarice Conner, Son, M, W, 22 yrs old (DOB 1888), Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Farm laborer on home farmEdker Conner (sic, should be Edgar Conner), Son, M, W, 17 yrs old (DOB 1893), Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Farm Laborer on home farmGeorge Conner, Grandson, M, W, 1 yrs old (DOB 1909), Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC

Flood of 1916
Two Category 4 hurricanes converged over western North Carolina in 1916. On July 5-6, a category 3 hurricane hit the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Florida. This was the earliest major hurricane to make landfall in U.S. history until 1957. A few days later, July 7 and 8, the weakened storm dropped heavy rainfall over the foothills and mountains of North Carolina.
Normal rains continued every day from July 9 to July 14. On July 14, a category 2 hurricane made landfall along South Carolina’s coast, passing over the Charleston area. On July 15 and 16, this system reached the North Carolina mountains as a tropical storm. It had now been raining for 10 days. On July 15, in Henderson County, 10 inches of rain fell in less than 12 hours. Because of the complete ground saturation from the earlier rain, it is estimated that 90 per cent of the water resulted from the second hurricane ran off. The French Broad River crested at an estimated 21 feet, some 17 feet above flood stage. The average width of the French Broad near Asheville was 381 feet in 1916. During the flood, it was approximately 1,300 feet across. Along the Catawba River, the flooding was similar. In some locations along its path in North Carolina, the Catawba rose almost 23 feet beyond previous high-water marks. Early Sunday morning, July 16, almost every dam in Western North Carolina burst. Trees were denuded absolutely of every vestige of bark. Rocks were ground smooth. Buildings were carried away in the irresistible rush. All bridges and train trestles were totally washed away, as were the Gerton, Bearwallow, Bat Cave and Chimney Rock Post Offices. Middle Fork, between Gerton and Bat Cave, was one of the areas most affected by the flood. The sides of the mountains gave way. Many other bodies were never found, and many people who lost everything could not afford to mark their loved ones’ graves.
Flood of 1916

Mudslides washing out railroad tracks.

Citizens of Old Fort, McDowell County, NC helping to clean up after the Flood of 1916.

Joseph Washington Conner died 2/9/1917 of unknown causes. He was 71 yrs old.

1920 U.S. Census of Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, NC, Roll T625_1321. Pg 5A, ED 153, Page 622-623. Ancestry.com, Line 50, next page Line 51-55, Dwelling 82 and 83, Family 89 and 90, "Cynthia C. Conner", "Edgar B. Conner"Cynthia C. Conner, Head, Owns farm, F(emale), W(hite), 71 yrs old (DOB would be 1849), Widow, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, No occupationGeorge H. Conner, Grandson, M, W, 11 yrs old, Attends school, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCEdgar B. Conner, Head, Owns farm, M, W, 27 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Farmer, General farmLillie M. Conner, Wife, F, W, 21 yrs old, Married, Can read & write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCEllie P. Conner, Daughter, F, W, 3 11/12 mos old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NCNellie E. Conner, Daughter, F, W, 1 3/12 mos old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC

1930 U.S. Census of Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, North Carolina; Roll: 1719; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0003; Image: 480.0; FHL microfilm: 2341453, Family 146, Line 26, "Cynthia Connor" (sic)Cynthia Connor, Head, Owns home valued at $200, No radio set, F(emale), W(hite), 82 yrs old (DOB 1848), Widowed, Married at age 18 yrs old (DOM 1866), Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, No occupation